A team of Cambodian artists have been invited to perform at the “Chingay 2023” parade in Singapore in February.
The event is a showcase of performing arts from throughout Asia, and will enable Cambodian participants to demonstrate the beauty of Khmer culture on the international stage.
Dam Darini, vice-president of Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), will lead the delegation of Cambodian artists to attend the event. A total of 35 artists, trainers and support staff will take part in the parade which is scheduled February 3-4 at the F1 Pit Building in the city-state.
The parade is one of the largest of its kind in Asia, and is held annually. The event was initiated by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, with the aim of showcasing the magnificence, beauty and diversity of multiculturalism.
This year’s parade will feature more than 10,000 participants, each of whom will showcase the cultural arts of their respective nations. This year’s theme is “Embrace Tomorrow.”
Ahead of departure, the Cambodian team has rehearsed a performance which combines traditional and contemporary dance, romduol dance style, and circus. The piece is titled “Our Hopes”.
According to a UYFC press release, the performance aims show the harmony of the Cambodian people and the beauty of their lives in a peaceful country with sustainable development.
Sok Sabayna, a permanent member of the UYFC, said that Cambodia’s participation in such international events is a great opportunity to share the beautiful culture of the Kingdom to the world.
“Apart from performances on the international stage, we would like the Kingdom’s youth to participate more in preserving the unique Khmer culture that their ancestors have left them,” he added.
Cambodian teams have been previously invited to the event twice, and attended in 2017 and 2019.
In 2017, Hun Many, UYFC president, led a delegation of 75 Cambodian artists and performers to perform under the theme “Unity in Cultural Diversity”. On that occasion, they performed three traditional artistic forms: Apsara, Khmer shadow theatre (Sbek Thom) and Kun Lbokator.
In 2019, Cambodia introduced five forms, under the theme “Harmony”.
